Sir Balaam now, he lives like other folks, He takes his chirping pint, and cracks his jokes: "Live like yourself," was foon my Lady's word; And lo! two puddings smoak'd upon the board. Afleep and naked as an Indian lay, An honeft factor ftole a Gem away! He pledg'd it to the knight; the knight had wit, So kept the Diamond, and the rogue was bit. Some scruple rofe, but thus he eas'd his thought, "I'll now give fix-pence where I gave a groat; "Where once I went to church, I'll now go twice"And am fo clear too of all other vice." The Tempter faw his time; the work he ply'd; Behold Sir Balaam now a man of spirit, But duly fent his family and wife. There (fo the Dev'l ordain'd) one Christmas-tide 5 Leaves the dull Cits, and joins (to please the Fair) I 3 THE Vanity of Expence in People of Wealth and Quality. The abuse of the word Tafte, ver. 13That the first principle and foundation in this, as in every thing elfe, is Good fenfe, ver. 40. The chief proof of it is to follow Nature, even in works of mere Luxury and Elegance. Inftanced in Architecture and Gardening, where all must be adapted to the Genius and Ufe of the Place, and the Beauties not forced into it, but refulting from it, ver. 50, How men are disappointed in their most expensive undertakings, fot want of this true Foundation, without which nothing can please long, if at all; and the best Examples and Rules will but be perverted into fomething burdenfome or ridiculous, ver, 65, &c. to 92. A description of the falfe Taste of Magnificence; the first grand error of which is to imagine that Greatness consists in the Size and Dimenfion, instead of the Proportion and Harmony of the whole, ver. 97. and the second, either in joining together Parts incoherent, or too minutely refembling, or in the Repetition of the fame too frequently, ver. 105, &c. A word or two of falfe Tafte in Books, in Mufic, in Painting, even in Preaching and Prayer, and laftly in Entertainments, ver. 133, &c. Yet PROVIDENCE is justified in giving Wealth to be fquandered in this manner, fince it is difperfed to the Poor and Laborious part of mankind, ver. 169. [recurring to what is laid down in the first Book, Ep. ii. and in the epiftle preceding this, ver. 159, &c.] What are the proper Objects of Magnificence, and a proper field for the Expence of Great Men, ver. 177, &c. and finally the Great and Public Works which become a Prince, ver. 191, to the end. 'TIS ftrange, the Mifer should his Cares employ To gain thofe riches he can ne'er enjoy : Is it lefs ftrange, the prodigal should wafte For what has Virro painted, built, and planted! Only to fhew, how many tastes he wanted. What brought Sir Vifto's ill-got wealth to waste ? You how us, Rome was glorious, not profuse, That, lac'd with bits of ruftic, makes a Front: |